History
The first use of head guards for American football was introduced in 1869 when George “Rose” Barclay, the Lafayette college halfback, began using straps and earpieces to protect his ears. It is not known exactly who introduced the first American Football helmet. Some sources indicate that James Naismith was the first to introduce the American Football helmet. Other sources indicate that the US Naval Academy Midshipman, Joseph M. Reeves, was the one with the first protective moleskin headgear in the 1893 Army-Navy game.
In the early 1900's the first version of the American Football Helmets was introduced. The first hardened leather helmet was introduced in 1917. Subsequently, the helmets were used extensively for the American Football sport. This was the beginning of the evolution of helmets. The helmets consisted of leather with a little bit of padding on the inside. Because there was little padding, the helmets offered hardly any protection for the players. In addition, the helmets also missed the face masks. This caused many injuries to the players. Due to the great effort that was put into the matches, players quickly got warm, which made the helmets uncomfortable to wear.
In 1939 an organization was founded for the production of American Football helmets. This was Riddell from Chicago, Illinois. At this time the first plastic American Football helmet was produced. Plastic helmets were more effective because these helmets kept the shape when an impact occurred. These helmets had more space for padding to protect the head and were more comfortable. A plastic face mask was also supplied with this helmet so that the entire head could be protected. In the 1940s, helmets became a requirement in the NFL. Here they were still made of leather but with improved techniques. The NFL allowed plastic and leather helmets but banned the plastic helmet in 1948, because the hard plastic posed a risk of injury. This ban was lifted after one year. One year later, the plastic helmet had become universal in the NFL competition.
In the 1950s, leather helmets were discontinued and plastic helmets replaced them. From 1955 it was recommended by the NFL to also play with face masks. This ensured that the number of broken noses and teeth were reduced, and new rules were drawn up to prohibit opponents from reaching for the face mask. The last players to play without face masks were Pat Studstill, Garo Yepremian and Tommy McDonald.
User moments
The helmet is made to protect the head so that the risk of head damage and head injury is reduced. The helmet can be used at different times. The helmet is suitable for training and competitions to protect your head from damage. You can also use the helmet to protect your head and face for other activities. The helmet takes blows so that your head cannot be damaged, which means that you can carry out your activities without the risk of accidents. It doesn't matter what the weather is when wearing the helmet. The helmet is resistant to water and offers protection from the sun that can shine in your eyes. The helmet also ensures that you have in the winter during the competitions. In the summer, the helmet also ventilates well, so that you do not get too hot and suffer from irritation due to sweat.
Specifications
The specifications of the helmets are designed to reduce the force in the event of a head impact. A helmet reduces the force exerted on the head by the energy of an impact. An American Football Helmet contains various shock absorbers and shock-absorbing cushions that reduce the force of the collision. In addition, a helmet contains other cushions that stimulate the comfort of the helmet. This ensures that an American Football helmet is well protected and comfortable at the same time. The cushions are tailor-made to stimulate compliance. In addition, the helmets contain air circulation so that you do not suffer from sweat and this ensures breathability. In addition, the helmets contain chinstraps that ensure that the chin of the head is protected. As a result, the player's head remains stable in the helmet during a collision. These chinstraps can be adjusted to your own size which ensures that they are comfortable and are designed by professionals which ensures that they have an ideal fit, good protection and are easy to use. The helmet also contains a flex system which ensures that the impact force is reduced. The helmets contain a quick release system. This is a mounting hardware for the face mask. This system is made of stainless steel, which gives it a long service life and you can easily detach the face mask from the helmet. The padding of the helmet is also easy to change because it is attached with screw caps.
Sizes
The helmets have different sizes. This means that the size of a Riddell Speed Helmet is displayed in a different way than the size of a Riddell Speedflex Diamond. As an example, the Riddell Speed Helmet has a size 'Medium' and with the Riddell Speedflex Diamond the sizes are displayed in 6 1/2 - 6 3/4. Our size chart clearly explains when you have which size. This will help you find the best size. The helmets are available for different ages. We have American Football helmets for adults. We also have American Football Helmets for Youth and Minis. A well-known model for this is the Victor-i Youth from Riddell.
Safety
American Football helmets contain unique shock absorbers and shock absorbing cushions that ensure that the impact of collisions is reduced. This ensures that the chances of harmful injuries are low. In addition, a face mask also provides protection for the face. This ensures that a player cannot sustain a broken nose or facial injuries. An American Football helmet provides optimal protection for the head and face. An American Football helmet also contains a chinstrap which protects the chin and keeps the head stable in the helmet. This ensures that the head remains in the same place in case of a blow to the head. The chinstrap is adjustable so that each person can use the chinstrap for optimal safety.
Virginia Tech Helmet Rating
All helmets from our range can be found on the Virginia Tech Helmet Rating. Here, American Football helmets are assessed using the STAR evaluation system. This system evaluates the protection of a helmet. This shows how well a helmet protects a player against collisions. Helmets containing a lot of stars reduce the risk of concussion.
Materials
American Football Helmet materials have changed a lot over the years. Previously, American Football helmets were made of soft leather on the outside. Now, the outer shell of a helmet consists of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a very suitable material for helmets because they are light, tough, and impact resistant. This remains the case even in the different temperatures that players are in. In addition, the helmet also contains materials that absorb energy from collisions. The compression shock absorbers and shock absorbers are the primary components that reduce the force of a collision. The secondary elements are the comfort cushions. These ensure that the helmet is comfortable while the shock absorbers protect the helmet. The materials must return to their original shape after multiple impacts so that they can once again protect the players to the fullest. Therefore, helmets are often made of polyurethane or nitrile foams. You also see more and more that helmets are made in combination with stainless steel, carbon steel and titanium.
Facemasks
In American Football, different face masks are worn. There are 2 primary factors that determine the shape of the face mask. These are visibility and protection. What balance the face mask should have depends on its position. Some face masks are designed to protect only the mouth, while others are designed to protect the mouth, eyes, nose and jaw. To distinguish these face masks, acronyms are used for the buyers. The Ropo or 2B model are great for wide receivers and quarterbacks because this face mask allows them to keep a good overview for throwing and receiving the ball. So many defending backs use this face mask as well. For example, the runningback needs more protection because he is running into tacklers and therefore can get hands in his face. This face mask is similar to the ROPO and 2B but in addition offers another vertical bar on the outside near each eye of the player. The appropriate mask for the runningback is the 2EG and 2BD from Riddell. Linebackers are the players who need the most protection. So on these face masks, there are even more bars on the outside. For a lineman, there is always jaw protection. The appropriate face masks for linemen are the 3BD from Riddell or the RJOP-DW from Schutt. These provide optimal protection for the face. The Linebackers, Fullbacks and Tight Ends choose a face mask that suits their style of play and the player's preference.
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